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| Author(s): |
Karoline de Macedo Gonçalves Frota
Total Authors: 1
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| Document type: | Master's Dissertation |
| Press: | São Paulo. |
| Institution: | Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Conjunto das Químicas (IQ e FCF) (CQ/DBDCQ) |
| Defense date: | 2007-06-05 |
| Examining board members: |
José Alfredo Gomes Arêas;
Nágila Raquel Teixeira Damasceno;
Raul Dias dos Santos Filho
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| Advisor: | Jose Alfredo Gomes Areas |
| Abstract | |
Introduction - Soya and other legume seeds are considered functional food because of their hypocholesterolemic properties. This property, however, is not reported yet for cowpea. A possible component present in this grain that could respond for the hypocholesterolemic effect is the protein fraction. Objective - To produce protein isolate of cowpea and to verify the influence of the whole seed and its isolated protein on the lipid metabolism of diet hypercholesterolemized hamsters. Methods - The cowpea protein isolate was prepared by isoelectric precipitation, using pH 8.5 for solubilization and pH 4.5 for protein precipitation. The isolate obtained presented protein content of about 92%. The protein isolate (PI) and cowpea whole seed (CWS) were used as protein source in experimental diets fed to hamsters that previously had their blood cholesterol increased by a diet containing 20 % of casein, 13,5 % of saturated fat and 0,1 % of cholesterol during 3 weeks. Animals were divided into 3 groups and fed on diets containing: 20 % casein (control), 20 % isolate protein of cowpea and 20 % of cowpea whole seed for 4 wks. Results - The results showed that for hamster that fed on diets containing PI and CWS occurred a significant decrease in total cholesterol (49 % and 20 %, respectively) and non-HDL cholesterol (54 % and 22 %, respectively), as compared to casein group. Histological analysis of hepatic tissue was performed and showed that PI and CWS presented reduction in hepatic lipotoxicity as compared to the casein group. Therefore, the group that received casein presented steatosis widely distributed throughout the hepatic lobule, while whole seed cowpea and protein isolate meal groups produced only focal steatosis and, in some cases, it was absent. Some mechanisms involved in lowering plasma cholesterol were investigated. Digestibility for PI was equal for casein group, while it was significantly lower for CWS group. The bile acids and cholesterol excretion in the feces were inversely proportional to plasma cholesterol levels. Animals on CWS presented higher levels of feces bile acids and cholesterol; these values were statistically different from animals on casein diet. Conclusions - Whole seed cowpea and its protein isolate reduce plasma cholesterol and hepatic lipotoxicity. Digestibility, the bile acids and cholesterol excretion are not related to hypocholesterolemic effect of protein isolate of cowpea. The mechanisms involved cholesterol reduction in these experiments is not yet fully elucidated. It is suggested that protein isolate of cowpea is related to the cholesterol syntheses, as it was not verified any increase in cholesterol excretion in the animals on protein isolate diet. (AU) | |